Supercharging APEX Spotlight Search

Supercharging APEX Spotlight Search
Author: Travis Caruth
June 18, 2025

Hey folks! If you spend a lot of time working with Oracle APEX, you know how handy the built-in spotlight search can be. But what if it could do even more—like pulling up documentation for your favorite PL/SQL packages right inside the search bar? That’s exactly what the apex-documentation-userscript ↗ is all about.

 

What Is This Script?

 

The apex-documentation-userscript is a userscript (think: a little browser add-on you control) that injects Oracle APEX documentation directly into the spotlight search in APEX 21.1 and above. It’s been tested most recently with APEX 24.2.5, but the idea is simple: get to the docs you need, faster than ever.

 

How Does It Work?

 

Once you’ve got this script installed (using something like Violentmonkey or Tampermonkey), just open any APEX builder page, pop open the search bar, and start typing. Looking for a specific PL/SQL package, procedure, or function? The script will surface relevant documentation links—no more bouncing between tabs or digging through menus.

 

Arrow keys or a quick click will take you straight to the docs in a new tab. It’s a small workflow tweak that can save a surprising amount of time.

 

Installation Is a Breeze

  1. Install a userscript manager (Violetmonkey, Tampermonkey, etc.).
  2. Add the script via this URL:
    ‎⁠https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tcaruth/apex-documentation-userscript/refs/heads/main/script.js⁠
  3. (Optional) Enable auto updates so you always have the latest version.

 

That’s it! You’re ready to roll.

 

What’s Next?

 

The script is already super useful, but there are plans to add support for JavaScript APIs and improve how it pulls PL/SQL documentation. If you’re the tinkering type, you can even fork the repo and play around with it yourself.

 

A Quick Word of Caution

 

This is an unofficial, community-made tool—not supported by Oracle or the APEX team. It’s provided “as is,” so use it at your own risk. But if you love making APEX work better for you, it’s definitely worth a look.

 

Check out the apex-documentation-userscript on GitHub ↗ and let me know if you give it a try. Happy coding!

Edit: You may also be interested in idea FR-4515, which was the inspiration for this project.